‘Lady in the Lake’ Co-Stars Natalie Portman and Noah Jupe Bonded Over Portman’s ‘Pretty F*cked Up’ Sense of Humor

Looking for your next murder mystery fix? Apple TV+ limited series “Lady in the Lake” is here to save you. Based on Laura Lippman’s novel of the same name, Natalie Portman stars as a 1960s housewife turned investigative reporter as she pursues the case of a missing woman named Cleo Sherwood (Moses Ingram), whose body was found in a city park lake. We caught up with stars Portman, Ingram, and Noah Jupe at the red carpet premiere in New York City on Thursday, July 11.

Jean-Marc Vallée, the late Emmy winning director of “Big Littles Lies” and “Sharp Objects,” served as an executive producer on the series, marking his final project before his untimely passing in 2021. “It was devastating that Jean-Marc passed just before we started [filming],” Portman tells IndieWire. “He was the one who brought me the material initially, with Nathan Ross as a partner, and he was the one who put me and [creator] Alma together, which is one of the greatest collaborations of my life. I’m very indebted to him and he was a wonderful soul and a great talent and it was a real major loss.”

Fellow cast members Noah Jupe and Moses Ingram had nothing but praise for their Oscar-winning co-star. “I was so overwhelmed that first day,” Ingram told IndieWire about her first day on set with Portman. “I [am] overwhelmed even now, on the back end. To be able to have seen her so much, it’s crazy.”

“Natalie is the fucking best,” Jupe tells IndieWire. “I love her to death. I mean, it goes without saying, she’s a wonderful actress. She’s incredible, her career just speaks for itself. But to be honest, what I was really happy to find out, was how lovely of a person she is. She’s kind, she’s humble, she’s funny. It’s just so good to see someone without an ego with that much to have an ego about, and just share with people, be generous, and professional.”

After hearing how most stories we’ve heard of Portman from those who have worked with the Oscar-winning actress not only tell of how genuine she is, but also how hysterically funny she is, Jupe said “She has one of the darkest senses of humor. I also have a very dark sense of humor. She made a joke one time on set and I was like, ‘Should I laugh? That’s pretty fucked up.’ Then we both looked at each other and we started laughing. I was like, ‘OK, this is acceptable.’ [laughs]”

For Jupe, this marks his second collaboration with series creator, writer, and director Alma Har’el, having previously worked together on her narrative feature debut “Honey Boy” in 2019. “[This is] the second time working with [her], I am very lucky. She is a good friend of mine, so you have that connection, that shared trust in each other,” Jupe said about reuniting with Har’el. “It’s a totally different character. Going on to set and knowing that that person who’s got your best interests at heart is amazing. We just grew as people together through this show and, yeah, I’m so proud of her and everything she’s done.”

Having grown up in Baltimore, while the show is set decades before she was even before, Ingram reflected on her memories of the city from her older relatives. “I heard a lot about Pennsylvania Avenue, it was always like a cultural hub and a place that a lot of people came far and wide for,” she said. “It was good to see it under those lights.” Ingram replaced Lupita Nyong’o after she exited the project in May 2022. Ingram told IndieWire that she never connected with Nyong’o.

There’s a point at the end of Episode 5 where things sort of spin out of control at the lengths Portman’s character will go to to get her story. When asked if her professional experience with journalists throughout her career had influenced any preparation she had done for the role, Portman said “I don’t think I know any journalist who has done what Maddie does, thank god.” She added, “It’s unethical, but we don’t judge our characters, we just explore their inner lives.”

Jaw dropping moments hit throughout the seven episodes. “It’s got some elements of fantasy that I think you can really appreciate,” Y’lan Noel tells us, who plays a key role alongside Natalie Portman’s character Maddie. As for what was most shocking to him, he touts “an interesting sort of dance sequence that’s kind of trippy. For me, that was the most shocking thing because it’s like, where did this come from?” Noel also praised creator Har’el for what she instilled throughout filming. “Serious topics can also have an air a levity,” he said. “It was almost like being on a playground; not having any fear when you’re working is really important. That’s when your best work comes out.”

Ingram will soon be seen in Joshua Oppenheimer’s “The End,” alongside IndieWire favorites Tilda Swinton, George MacKay, and Michael Shannon. “It was a wild ride, man,” she teases. “I haven’t watched it yet, but Josh is great, and I can’t wait for him to have everything come to fruition in the way that he wants.” When asked if she shares any scenes with Swinton, Ingram said, “I can’t tell you, but I can tell you, Tilda is amazing. She’s one of my favorite people.”

For more on the upcoming limited series watch the trailer for “Lady in the Lake.”

“Lady in the Lake” premieres July 19 on Apple TV+.